It's been 10 years since the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated in the Texas skies Feb. 1, 2003, while headed for a landing at Kennedy Space Center. From the left (bottom row), wearing red shirts to signify ... more

Photo: AP2003

It's been 10 years since the Space Shuttle Columbia... Photo-4115905.55991 - SFGate

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In this Jan. 16, 2003 file photo, the space shuttle Columbia lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Space shuttle Columbia broke apart in flames 200,000 feet over Texas on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003, killing all seven astronauts just minutes before they were to glide to a landing in Florida. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) less

In this file photo, astronaut Rick D. Husband, mission commander of the space shuttle Columbia, is pictured on the aft flight deck. Husband and six crew members were lost when Columbia broke up during re-entry over north Texas on Feb. 1, 2003. (AP Photo/NASA) less

In this file photo, astronaut Rick D. Husband, mission commander of the space shuttle Columbia, is pictured on the aft flight deck. Husband and six crew members were lost when Columbia broke up during re-entry ... more

In this Feb. 1, 2003 file photo, debris from the space shuttle Columbia streaks across the sky over Tyler, Texas. The Columbia broke apart in flames 200,000 feet over Texas killing all seven astronauts just minutes before they were to glide to a landing in Florida. Ten years later, reminders of Columbia are everywhere, including up in the sky. Everything from asteroids, lunar craters and Martian hills, to schools, parks, streets and even an airport (Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport) bear the Columbia astronauts' names. Two years ago, a museum opened in Hemphill, Texas, where much of the Columbia wreckage rained down, dedicated to "remembering Columbia." About 84,000 pounds of that wreckage, representing 40 percent of NASA's oldest space shuttle, are stored at Kennedy and loaned for engineering research. (AP Photo/Scott Lieberman) less

In this Feb. 1, 2003 file photo, debris from the space shuttle Columbia streaks across the sky over Tyler, Texas. The Columbia broke apart in flames 200,000 feet over Texas killing all seven astronauts just ... more

State troopers guard a piece of debris from the space shuttle Columbia in Etoile, Texas, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2003. Authorities used horses and satellite gear Sunday to search for more scorched pieces of space shuttle Columbia across the Texas and Louisiana countryside, as NASA moved ahead with its investigation and the seven astronauts were mourned at church services around the nation. less

State troopers guard a piece of debris from the space shuttle Columbia in Etoile, Texas, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2003. Authorities used horses and satellite gear Sunday to search for more scorched pieces of space ... more

Photo: SUE OGROCKI, AP

State troopers guard a piece of debris from the space shuttle... Photo-1228023.55991 - SFGate

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A piece of debris believed to be from the space shuttle Columbia lies on the ground near Hemphill, Texas, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2003.

A piece of debris believed to be from the space shuttle Columbia lies on the ground near Hemphill, Texas, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2003.

Photo: MARK ZIMMERMAN, AP

A piece of debris believed to be from the space shuttle Columbia... Photo-1228020.55991 - SFGate

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An FBI agent and a Texas Department of Public Safety officer look over a 4-foot by 6-foot piece of the Space Shuttle Columbia that lies in the median along State Highway 155 north of Palastine, Texas on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2003. The space shuttle blew up over North Texas and pieces of the wreckage are scattered over East Texas and Louisiana. less

An FBI agent and a Texas Department of Public Safety officer look over a 4-foot by 6-foot piece of the Space Shuttle Columbia that lies in the median along State Highway 155 north of Palastine, Texas on ... more

Photo: JERRY LARA, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

An FBI agent and a Texas Department of Public Safety officer look... Photo-1228034.55991 - SFGate

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A makeshift memorial is placed near the Hermosa Beach Pier, in Hermosa, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003, to honor the seven astronauts that died aboard the space shuttle Columbia that broke apart over Texas.

A makeshift memorial is placed near the Hermosa Beach Pier, in Hermosa, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003, to honor the seven astronauts that died aboard the space shuttle Columbia that broke apart over Texas.

A small piece of the Space Shuttle Columbia lies along a farm road north of Palestine, Texas, on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2003. The space shuttle blew up over North Texas and pieces of the wreckage are scattered over East Texas and Louisiana. less

A small piece of the Space Shuttle Columbia lies along a farm road north of Palestine, Texas, on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2003. The space shuttle blew up over North Texas and pieces of the wreckage are scattered over ... more

Photo: JERRY LARA, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

A small piece of the Space Shuttle Columbia lies along a farm road... Photo-1228036.55991 - SFGate

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A helmet, believed to have come from the space shuttle Columbia, lies in a field near Lufkin, Texas, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2003. The shuttle tore to pieces Saturday 39 miles above Texas as the spaceship re-entered Earth's atmosphere, killing all seven astronauts. less

A helmet, believed to have come from the space shuttle Columbia, lies in a field near Lufkin, Texas, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2003. The shuttle tore to pieces Saturday 39 miles above Texas as the spaceship re-entered ... more

Photo: CHRISTINE DIAMOND, AP

A helmet, believed to have come from the space shuttle Columbia,... Photo-1228009.55991 - SFGate

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A searcher looks through the woods near San Augustine for remains of the space shuttle on Monday, Feb. 3, 2003. Space Shuttle Columbia broke apart over Texas upon re-entry on Saturday morning.

A searcher looks through the woods near San Augustine for remains of the space shuttle on Monday, Feb. 3, 2003. Space Shuttle Columbia broke apart over Texas upon re-entry on Saturday morning.

Photo: BILLY CALZADA, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

A searcher looks through the woods near San Augustine for remains... Photo-1228000.55991 - SFGate

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Wes Jones, superintendent of the Chireno Independent School District, stands on school grounds by a charred piece of the space shuttle, which is marked by a flag on Monday, Feb. 3, 2003. Classes were not held on Monday as Jones waited for the EPA to remove dozens of pieces of debris, which may have been toxic. less

Wes Jones, superintendent of the Chireno Independent School District, stands on school grounds by a charred piece of the space shuttle, which is marked by a flag on Monday, Feb. 3, 2003. Classes were not held ... more

Tracy L. Clark of Eagle Construction and Environmental Services handles a piece of debris from the Space Shuttle Columbia out of a container which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hired to collect the shuttle debris on Monday, Feb. 3, 2003 in Douglass, Texas. less

Tracy L. Clark of Eagle Construction and Environmental Services handles a piece of debris from the Space Shuttle Columbia out of a container which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hired to collect the ... more

Members of the International ALERT Academy in Big Sandy, Texas, search the piney woods near San Augustine, Texas, for debris from the space shuttle on Monday, Feb. 3, 2003.

Members of the International ALERT Academy in Big Sandy, Texas, search the piney woods near San Augustine, Texas, for debris from the space shuttle on Monday, Feb. 3, 2003.

Photo: BILLY CALZADA, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

Members of the International ALERT Academy in Big Sandy, Texas,... Photo-1227995.55991 - SFGate

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A crew departs from the Indian Mounds boat ramp on Toledo Bend Reservoir Monday, Feb. 3, 2003, in Hemphill, Texas, as they search the reservoir for debris from the space shuttle Columbia.

A crew departs from the Indian Mounds boat ramp on Toledo Bend Reservoir Monday, Feb. 3, 2003, in Hemphill, Texas, as they search the reservoir for debris from the space shuttle Columbia.

Photo: CHARLIE GESELL, AP

A crew departs from the Indian Mounds boat ramp on Toledo Bend... Photo-1227978.55991 - SFGate

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Tracy L. Clark of Eagle Construction and Environmental Services takes out a piece of debris from the Space Shuttle Columbia out of a container which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hired to collect the shuttle debris on Monday, Feb. 3, 2003 in Douglass, Texas. less

Tracy L. Clark of Eagle Construction and Environmental Services takes out a piece of debris from the Space Shuttle Columbia out of a container which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hired to collect ... more

John Guedry with the U.S. Forest Service, right, carries a GPS plotter Monday, Feb. 3, 2003, as volunteers set out to search the forest near Hemphill, Texas.

John Guedry with the U.S. Forest Service, right, carries a GPS plotter Monday, Feb. 3, 2003, as volunteers set out to search the forest near Hemphill, Texas.

Photo: MICHAEL MULVEY, AP

John Guedry with the U.S. Forest Service, right, carries a GPS... Photo-1227982.55991 - SFGate

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A U.S. flag is placed by a 4-foot by 6-foot piece of the Space Shuttle Columbia that lies in the median along State Highway 155 north of Palestine, Texas, on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2003. The space shuttle blew up over North Texas and pieces of the wreckage were scattered over East Texas and Louisiana. less

A U.S. flag is placed by a 4-foot by 6-foot piece of the Space Shuttle Columbia that lies in the median along State Highway 155 north of Palestine, Texas, on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2003. The space shuttle blew up ... more

Photo: JERRY LARA, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

A U.S. flag is placed by a 4-foot by 6-foot piece of the Space... Photo-1228033.55991 - SFGate